Best TVs under £1000 of 2024: OLED TVs, QLED TVs and more bargains

The best televisions for less than £1000 include cheap OLED sets, bargain QLED sets and plain LED sets

Best TVs under £1000 2024: Menu

Best TVs under £1000: Image depicts person with popcorn in front of TV

(Image credit: Canva)

00. The list in brief ↴
01.
Best overall: Samsung BU8500
02. Best premium: LG OLED C2
03. Best cheaper: Samsung Q80A
04. Best subscription: Sky Glass
05. Best 43in premium: Samsung QN90A
06. Best 65in bargain: Samsung AU9000
07. Best 75in bargain: Samsung AU7100
08. Best Sony: Sony X90K / X94K
09.
How we choose the best TVs under £1000

Our best TVs under £1000 guide is here to provide you with sets that offer a top-notch viewing experience without you having to completely clear out your savings account to be able to afford them. It turns out that you don't have to go ultra-premium to get impressive audio and video in a TV.

We're now in an area where TVs tend to come with 4K as standard, so you're not going to be missing out too much in terms of pixels when going for a cheaper set – you just might see some differences in the panel technology. We recommend checking out QD-LED or QLED TVs, which are not far off OLED technology, but priced much lower – it's a win-win really.  

If you know the specifics of what you want in terms of panel dimensions, we've got dedicated guides to the best 55-inch TVs, the best 65-inch TVs, and the best 75-inch TVs under £1000. And, if you want to find something even more affordable for your next set, check out our guide to the best TVs under £500.

Mike Lowe portrait
Mike Lowe

At T3 I manage the TV testing, using the voices of experienced freelancers, in addition to my own in-house testing – which I've been undertaking here and at other outlets for the best part of a decade now. So when it comes to a more affordable TV under £1000 I've got the knowledge to suggest the best options, as you'll see in this guide.

T3's Top 3

Best overall

Samsung BU8500 best TVs under 1000T3 Best Buy badge

(Image credit: Samsung)
Punching way above its price point

Specifications

Screen size: 55 inches
Other sizes: 43, 50, 65, 75 inches
Inputs: HDMI 2.0 x3, USB-A x2
Dimensions: 1233 x 709 x 26 mm

Reasons to buy

+
Superb 4K picture quality
+
Good looks for the money
+
Impressive specs list

Reasons to avoid

-
Sound could be better
-
Upscaling isn't the best

This is a 4K LED TV with an impressive specs list and a picture quality that will have you thinking it costs a lot more than it actually does: during our testing time with the Samsung BU8500 we loved the quality of what our eyes were seeing, and it can easily go up against television sets that cost a lot more.

Perhaps that's to be expected from Samsung – a company that makes some of the very best TVs in the business – but it's still great to see. Samsung's Crystal 4K processing technology is on board, and it means that your content is going to look super-sharp and vivid when it's on screen. HLG and HDR10+ high dynamic range standards are supported, though upscaling could be a little better.

The backlighting is smooth and even, and the design of the set is something to be admired too – it's going to add a touch of style to whatever room you decide to put it into. There is some room for improvement here (the sound quality could be better, for example), but you won't do much better for the price.

Best premium

LG C2 on yellow backgroundT3 Award

(Image credit: LG)
The best OLED TV for most people

Specifications

Panel type: OLED
Screen sizes: 48in / 55in / 65in / 77in / 83in
High dynamic range (HDR): HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
HDMI: 4 total (2x HDMI 2.1)

Reasons to buy

+
Great picture
+
Works amazingly well with games
+
Plenty of connectivity

Reasons to avoid

-
No HDR10+
-
Middling sound quality

This is the TV that keeps on giving, because not only is it a high-flier in all of T3's best OLED TVs category, it's now under the all-important four-figure asking price, even in its 55-inch format. As said in our LG OLED C2 review: "this is the best OLED TV for most people", delivering great picture quality at a great price point.

LG is the daddy of all OLED panels (literally, it makes them for other brands) and so knows exactly what it's doing when it comes to delivering top-tier quality. It knows a thing or two about sound, too, except in the C2 it's not the best ever – so try and budget for one of the best soundbars for LG TVs too. 

The presence of multiple HDMI 2.1 ports means this is also one of the best gaming TVs you can buy as well, thanks to excellent variable refresh rate (VRR) support it's one of the best TVs for PS5 too. A great all-rounder that's worth the investment. 

Best Affordable

Samsung Q80A on white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Samsung)

3. Samsung QE55Q80A

The best TV under £1000 for most people

Specifications

Screen size: 55 inches
Other sizes: 50, 65, 75, 85 inches
Inputs: HDMI x4, USB x2, ethernet
Dimensions: 1227.6x706.7x54.7 mm

Reasons to buy

+
Bright HDR image quality
+
Great value for money
+
Next-gen HDMI 2.1 features

Reasons to avoid

-
Doesn't handle dark areas as well as OLED

Having received some impressive price drops since its launch this well-specced 55-inch set from Samsung is the overall best bang-for-buck TV at the time of writing, balancing image quality as well as features. And you get a nice bit of change from our price limit. There are TVs below that beat it in specific areas, but as a total package, this is such good value.

It's a QLED TV with a direct backlight and local dimming, which means it's both impressively bright and really colourful. It can go brighter than any OLED TV that's even close in price, which is ideal for watching in brighter rooms. You get so much dazzle and realism thanks to the bold screen – but it can also makes black areas look deep and richly dark. OLED TVs are still the king of nuance in dark areas, but this TV still acquits itself excellently.

The image processing is fantastic too – Samsung's Quantum Processor 4K is as advanced as anything else in a 4K TV, and upscales images to look good at 4K superbly, while also making motion look natural. The sound is provided by a series of speakers around the edge, with the TV analysing the picture and positioning sounds in the right direction, to add real dynamic action.

Best subscription

Sky Glass in blue on white backgroundT3 Approved badge

(Image credit: Sky)
The best subscription TV

Specifications

Available sizes: : 43, 55, 65 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Incredibly easy to set up and use
+
Sky TV is built-in

Reasons to avoid

-
You need reliable internet 
-
Subscription costs will add up 

While its screen tech won’t compete with some of the best TVs ever made, the Sky Glass is a 4K QLED TV is a decent display and, most importantly, you don't need to drop a chunk of cash on it to buy – it can be bought as part of your monthly Sky package. 

If that isn’t enough to convince you, then the best part about it is that you get everything Sky has to offer built-in. You’ll be able to flick through Live TV, watch original Sky content and access all of the other satellite channels without hooking up a separate box or streaming stick. There’s just one wire to get it all up and running so you’ll be saving on space and cable mess.

You don’t need a satellite dish for it to work either. But, as said in our Sky Glass review, you do need to have decent broadband at home, if not then you’ll be better off sticking to a TV paired with the Sky Q box instead. 

Best 43in

Samsung 43QN95A on white background

(Image credit: Samsung)

5. Samsung 43QN90A

The best 43-inch TV under £1000 for image quality

Specifications

Screen size: 43 inches
Other sizes: 50, 55, 65, 75, 98 inches
Inputs: HDMI x4, USB x2
Dimensions: 961 x 560 x 27mm

Reasons to buy

+
High-end Neo QLED images
+
Great smart TV software
+
HDMI 2.1 support

Reasons to avoid

-
No Dolby Vision or Atmos

The Samsung QN90A comes with the company's next-gen 'Neo QLED' panel tech, using a 'mini-LED' to create images that are much brighter than a lot of the competition, while at the same being able to create deeper black levels in precise areas of the screen. It's the same screen tech used in the fantastic Samsung QN95A – this smaller model features a few cut-back features, but still delivers the most cinematic images you can currently get from a 43-inch TV.

Samsung's Quantum Processor is excellent at making sure that 4K images look their best, and does a fantastic job of upscaling HD to fill the higher-resolution screen. It also handles motion really well, to ensure that action or sports look clear, but films don't have that artificial effect.

It also has an HDMI 2.1 port, and supports 4K 120Hz and VRR, so is ready for next-gen gaming on the PS5 or Xbox Series X. If you want an affordable set that's able to jump between movies and gaming without any problem at all, then the 43-inch Samsung 43QN90A could be the one.

Best 65in

Samsung AU9000 on white backgroundT3 Award

(Image credit: Samsung)

6. Samsung 65AU9000

A great TV for under £1,000

Specifications

Screen sizes : 43, 50, 55, 65, 75 inches
Inputs: HDMI x3, USB x2, composite video, ethernet
Dimensions: 1451.7x832.2x25.7mm

Reasons to buy

+
Bold colours
+
Strong HD upscaling and 4K detail
+
Great smart TV software

Reasons to avoid

-
No Dolby Vision or Atmos
-
Sound is mediocre

This Samsung AU9000 is Samsung's highest-end TV from 2021 that isn't a QLED, which means that it doesn't feature quite the same punchy colours and brightness that those sets are known for... but it also means the TV costs a lot less, enabling this model to squeeze into our sub-£1,000 budget at a variety of sizes.

And you won't feel like you buying a budget TV at all. The image quality is still really strong, and in particular the handling of 4K detail and the upscaling of HD mean that things look fantastic at the 65-inch size we're recommending (obviously, you can go smaller and save some cash). It's also really nicely made, and certainly doesn't look like a more affordable model.

The smart TV platform is the same system you get on Samsung's 8K super-TVs, so is easy to use and packed with useful features and streaming service support. And there's a great gaming mode, making this a strong choice for console lovers, despite its lack of HDMI 2.1. The sound quality is the only notable weak spot – if you're going for images this big, you should budget for adding one of the best soundbars for Samsung TVs soon.

Best 75in

Samsung AU7100 TV on white backgroundT3 Award

(Image credit: Samsung)

7. Samsung 75AU7100

The best 75-inch TV for under £1000 – go huge for less

Specifications

Screen size: 75 inches
Other sizes: 43, 50, 55, 58, 65, 70, 85 inches
Inputs: HDMI x3, USB x1, ethernet
Dimensions: 1673x958x60mm

Reasons to buy

+
Great quality, giant screen
+
Excellent smart platform

Reasons to avoid

-
No Dolby Vision
-
Not the brightest

This is one of Samsung's most affordable TVs right now, which is why you can get such a ridiculous amount of TV for such a low price. But it won't feel bargain basement – you get really strong image processing, impressive colour reproduction and solid contrast for the price.

Compared to more expensive TVs, you don't get quite the same level of HDR performance, and low-quality daytime TV isn't going to upscale to its full 75 inches quite as well as something with more advanced processing, but in our five-star Samsung AU7100 review we said that it offers "detailed, composed 4K images", so you'l really make the most of its big size with quality video. It also handles motion better than the competition, so if you want something big for sports, it's ideal.

Samsung smart TV platform is one of the easiest to use, and comes with excellent support for streaming services and apps, so you'll have no problem finding what you want to watch, either. You might want to think about adding a soundbar to make sure that the scale of the audio matches the size of the screen, but that's true of most budget TVs anyway.

Best Sony

sony x90k 4k smart tv blackT3 Award

(Image credit: Sony)
The best Sony TV under £1000 for future-proofing

Specifications

Screen size: 55 inches
Other sizes available: 50, 65, 75 inches
Inputs: HDMI 2.0 x3, USB x2, ethernet
Dimensions: 1119x649x70mm

Reasons to buy

+
High-contrast, vibrant, well-controlled images
+
Engrossing gaming experience (2x HDMI 2.0)

Reasons to avoid

-
Some backlighting issues
-
Average sound

This is a mid-range blockbuster from Sony, mixing the company's latest and greatest image processing with a really bright and impressive 4K LCD panel. Detail in 4K, and upscaling from HD, is all as good as any TV of any price offers really. It's the same story for handling motion, which is made more clear and crisp, but never becomes artificial.

Colour and contrast are handled expertly too, resulting in seriously impressive HDR performance – everything is super-sumptuous, but remains realistic. Dolby Vision support helps with that, and really gets the most from the X90K can handle when it comes to brightness and local dimming. The backlighting isn't always perfect, mind, but this is a step-down level of TV so it's not a surprise.

The X90K comes equipped with two HDMI 2.1 ports for next-gen gaming, and is actually part of Sony's 'Perfect for PlayStation' brand, which means it not only supports 4K 120Hz gaming, but also offers more precise HDR reproduction from the PS5 than other TVs. We also like the on-board Google TV software. Here's our full Sony X90K review (which, in some territories, is called the X94K).

How to choose

From eye-candy UHD visuals and superior sound to drop dead gorgeous design, these are the TV sets you should be shortlisting right now.

All demonstrably benefit from the extra clarity that 4K offers, a fact that will be particularly noticeable when upgrading from a 1080p telly. The good news is that there’s now less of a shortage of native UHD content to exploit this resolution boost. From Apple TV and the burgeoning UHD Blu-ray catalogue, to Netflix, Amazon and Sky, there’s plenty of stuff to show off your new panel’s prowess.

And of course gaming is increasingly a source of spectacular 4K, thanks to the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X (and soon the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X).

All these TVs feature HDR onboard. It’s worth noting that not all screens that claim to be HDR offer a genuine HDR experience, with properly bright spectral highlights. Many lower cost models are merely 'HDR compatible' (which means they know when they’re receiving HDR content, but they don’t have the wherewithal to do much with it). Naturally, we're looking for the ones that truly make the most of HDR.

The other area where corners are inevitably cut with less flagship TVs is sound, but that's easily solved with one of the best soundbars. You can add one now (just factor it into your budget), or try without for a while and add one when you're ready.

Mike Lowe
Tech Editor

Mike is the Tech Editor and AV Editor at T3.com. He's been writing about consumer technology for 15 and, as a phones expert, has seen hundreds of handsets over the years – swathes of Android devices, a smattering of iPhones, and a batch of Windows Phone products (remember those?). But that's not all, as a tech aficionado his beat for T3 also covers tablets, laptops, gaming, home cinema, TVs, speakers and more – there's barely a stone unturned that he's not had a hand on. Previously the Reviews Editor at Pocket-lint for a 10 years, he's also provided work for publications such as Wired, The Guardian, Metro, and more. In addition to his tech knowledge, Mike is also a flights and travel expert, having travelled the globe extensively. You'll likely find him setting up a new mobile phone, critiquing the next MacBook, all while planning his next getaway... or cycling somewhere.